Springfield daily republic. [volume] (Springfield, O. [Ohio]) 1887-1888, 1887-04-23
THE RETURN OF THE BIRDS.
What Can E- Done to Retain Our r-ath-
cred song-t-r~.

sounds. lie Is only nj Tor utaSOn-, STRAIT
egems and SpoilS." Indeed. il is doubtful
whether the man who has no affection for
all animal creation is lit To be trusted with
any OF the graver responsibilities nf human
life. The return of the birds, those gra-
cious harhingerS of spring. is a per
ennial theme for writers OF poetry and
prose. iut it is 4 somewhat commonplace
and practical aspect OF this theme tu which
we here call attention.
Several years ago We resolved 10 try what
could be done toward inducing the volun-
tary settlement an our premises Of the more
interesting birds of this locality Db>erva-
ton appri>ed us ot the fact that what i
needed Ia secure such a settlement OF our
| local birds Is not only facilities for nest
building and immunity from mOleSta-
ton. but ais" seemingly slight
matter. often overlooked in this con
nrction, namely. accessibility Ia fresh. pure
water. The receptacle for this water must
not ~ too deep, and those which We Secur-
I ed were made uf hlock~ or slabs of hrwn
( limestone, channelled out with sluping
sides which would graduate the depth OF
wafer to suit small A. well As larger birds
II is not only drinking facilities which the
7 birds require but also an appropriate and
meaSurably secluded place to bathe Dur
ing the heated term there i scarcely half
hour during the entire day in which there
are not from one Ia three birds bathing in
the stone trOughs. Ii requires but moment
each day 10 repleniSh these receptacle with
/ fresh water. and il is probably due as much
/ to these facilities aS Ia any other. that our
. -. s,,I,, l.,
the premises have been 50 successful. Ii
/ leads TO the reflection that during pro-
/ tracted summer drought. birds, a. well As
animals. doubtless often suffer srvrrely
merely for the lack Of pure wafer
! The English Sparruws. like the poor. We
: have always with It's, and they therefore
I cannot be claSSed among the returning birds
of spring. Like the humorist's mother-in i'll
law, they make two visits a year and stay
six months each time. Their nagging
cries, originally developed. il Is said. among
the NOISY, Gathering factory towns of Eng
land, make them annoying Ia the nervous.
while their perinacity in building their
nests IN eaveS-troughs and house-p0rches
make then Seritable plague Ia the any
/ iOIIS houSekeeper. But even theS.. diSa-
, greeable characteristics pale beside their
| antIpaihy for our other American birds
whirh leads them {" appropriate neSts and
| otherwise make war upon our own featheTei
>ongSterS The person who would lure our
| Local birds Ia their premises will find il
| nrteSsary to make il plain tn the English
SparrowS that they are not wanted and a
>i!ent-Shnoting flobert rifle, or a strong
Indian rubber pea shooter must often be
| called into repuisition Ia counteract the
| depretiationS Of the sparrOwS. In time the
| English sparrow problem bids fair to be-
| come as important in the American Orni-
theological world as is the eastern question
| in British political circles.
| The lirst comers this spring were two
precocious robins. who We're probably de
| ceivei by few premature warm days. but
VIII" were caught by the later cold weather
| They were found onr morning huddled be-
| hind the window shutters for warmth. and
| some chopped meat placed upon the win
| tow-sill was quickly devOured by them.
After this, and during the continuance of
| the cold snap. their regular rations were
dealed out 10 them. and if 10y any means
| the supply was delayed the people inside
were soon apprised of the fact By vgor-
Gus pecking OF the male bird upon the win
dow glass.
The robins are probably the most harm
less as well as the least man-tearing of all
| Our native birds. The bathing troaghs be
| fore mentioned seem to form an especial
| attraction for them. and are employed al
| most constantly by these birds during the
| summer.
| The next cOmrrs. on about the 10th of
| April. were the martins, for whom facilities
| we're provided over three Years ago. the
| martin-house which We have is a somewhat
| historic one, being the same which for time
immemorlal stood at the old Uncle
| Billy Moore corner on west Main
street, and which for decades
Of years had been annually inhabited by
| these birds. 1t was. il must De confessed.
a matter of curiosity tO see whether the
| transferance of this house to another part
of the city would draw the birds thither.
| The experiment was a success. and now
with the utmost regularity. on about the
date above named, these birds make their
| appearance. Dne of the most enthusiastic
| promoters of the interests OF these martins
or swallows, a> they are often called. is
Mr.. AlphOnsO Farrell, OF our city. who has
devoted great care and study Ia their habits.
and provides b0untifully for their accom-
mediation. From the fact that when the
| young birds at our respective holiseS are
| hatchci out. the families Of martins from
| tiif iNb l'ldtt> nave u HOUSE
warming. or Notwithstanding. during which
| great Interchange of courtesieS and cummu-
| ton prevails. We have about come Ia the
conclusion that the br,i> of the two places
| are blood relations.
The departure of the martins at the close
of the summer sSeaOn Is no less interesting
| than their advent i'll the spring. This has
probably been noticed by many persons in
the great congregation Of these birds at the
Kelly Arcade corner previous 10 their de
parture in the fall. For a few days imme-
diately preceding such departure there
seems Ia be- a general understanding among
them that farewell jubilee Is To be held at
the arcade or p0Stoflice corner. At this
time all local martin houses are deserted by
their occupants, and for several days pre-
yiOuS To departure they seem to revel in a
grand social time on. the telegraph wires,
and roof and caves Of the pOstOtlice build
ing. Certainly no one fOrgetS the cOmmo-
tion at that point last fall when the gather
ing took place. The martins depart in
companies. and the multitude Is gradually
depleted until all are gone.
Next came the blue birds with their
modest. pathetic warble and subdued, but
attractive plumage. They We're found pros
pecting for building place, and were soon
accommodated with an object which has
been found to be the most suitable for their
nesting purposes by the birds: namely,
hollow piece of wood. about a foot long
with a side hole bored in the same, and the
top aud bottom OF the followed wood closed. |
In fact. it is nothing more or less than a
wooden pump spout, closed at each end,
and wired to a crotch in the tree, the open |
ing in the side serving as doorway.
But our most interesting visitors have yet ;